In 1956 a plane bearing mysterious cargo takes off from a small airport outside Los Angeles and disappears into a raging storm. Nearly 60 years later, while flying over the Sierra Nevada, retired military assassin turned civilian flight instructor and would-be Buddhist Cordell Logan catches a glint of sunlight on metal and spots what appears to be an aircraft wreckage. His life will never be the same.
Logan and his beautiful ex-wife, Savannah, plan a reconciliation in posh Lake Tahoe. But upon landing in the Ruptured Duck, his beloved aging Cessna, Logan agrees to put those plans on hold when he's asked to help guide a search-and-rescue team to the remote, mountainous crash site. The team finds not only a long-missing airplane, with the mummified remains of its pilot still at the controls, but something much more recent and far more sinister: the body of a young man, shot to death only hours earlier. Someone has beaten the rescuers to the site and will clearly stop at nothing to profit from what the plane was carrying - including kidnapping and threatening to kill Savannah if Logan refuses to help them carry out their getaway plans. With the clock ticking and the love of his life in peril, Logan is drawn into a vexing vortex as personal and potentially deadly as any he's ever known.
Voodoo Ridge is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thrill ride filled with the kind of unexpected twists, full-throttle action, and wry humor that won Freed's Flat Spin and Fangs Out, the first two installments in the Cordell Logan mystery series, rave reviews and a legion of loyal fans.
David was born on an Air Force base in the Deep South, grew up the son of a cop along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and decided to give writing a shot soon after realizing that his grade point average would never get him into medical school. As an investigative journalist, most notably with the Los Angeles Times, he chronicled affairs of state, all manner of catastrophes, and the activities of the US military, including Operation Desert Storm. He spent myriad hours hunting for smoking guns in dusty archives, meeting confidential sources in bars and parking garages, and digging through trash cans long after midnight. Along the way, he shared in a Pulitzer Prize and won a few other shiny awards that occupy a box in his attic. He later became a Hollywood screenwriter paid to pen mostly action movies that were rarely produced, and, later still, an asset working with the U.S. intelligence community. David has been a licensed pilot for more than 30 years. He is a contributing editor at Air & Space Smithsonian magazine, a special assistant professor of journalism at Colorado State University, and teaches creative writing at Harvard's Extension School.
Third in the Cordell Logan Mystery series. My first. Logan’s an intriguing character with his Buddhist studies (though NO ONE can truly be a Buddhist and NOT be a vegan. Buddhists DO NOT KILL unless threatened.), his past experience with counter-intelligence and his current job as a flight instructor. All this gives him insight into cases and the wherewithal to get to places many can’t very easily access. In Voodoo Ridge, Logan and his ex-wife decide they’re going to marry for the second time up at Lake Tahoe. They fly in for the weekend when Logan notices an abandoned plane in the mountains. It turns out to be an abandoned government issued 1959 plane that had been carrying dangerous cargo. A deep mystery involving secret weapons linked to a CIA weapons testing unravels with which Logan becomes involved.
Not sure that Logan has a cross-sectional appeal. So many sexist comments and macho elements cloud a rather strong thriller concept. At one point Logan says: “He’d kidnapped my woman, terrorized her gentle soul.” Yeah yeah Logan. Get over yourself. YOUR woman? NO woman, no person is YOUR property. Icky. Strike. Then at another point he goes to a library and has an interaction with a female librarian: “Her smile was one part professional and about three parts lonely.” Oh David Freed. Can you BE any more clichéd and sexist? Strike. While Voodoo Ridge is a decent mystery and I wanted to see what the strange cargo was in the plane, I don’t care enough about Cordell Logan to keep reading his mystery series. He’s got too much of the guy-rescuing-pretty-and-helpless-women-ego.
The third installment in the Cordell Logan series is a winner. It begins with Logan and Savannah flying to Lake Tahoe to get remarried when Logan spots what appears to be the wreckage of an airplane on a mountain. He reports this to the police and accompanies them up into the mountains in search of survivors.
There are none. The pilot has been dead for decades and, in addition, there's a body of a man recently shot to death by the airplane itself and clear signs that someone had taken something from it.
Soon, Logan finds himself embroiled in an investigation that will have him risk everything he holds dear.
Excellent writing, pace, humor, and characters. And a clear sign that this series has lasting power.
Ray Porter narrated the audiobook and was his usual excellent self.
Cordell Logan has known lots of violence in his life. But now he’s trying hard for a Buddhist’s calm. It's logical, then, that the Cordell Logan mysteries, by David Freed, should be filled with so many instances of life's balance, frayed and renewed. And Voodoo Ridge is no exception.
Logan's struggles to make ends meet just might be over as he remarries the oil-rich wife who left him so in need of Buddhism and peace. A new leaf is turning in his life, perhaps. The former wife pays for a Lake Tahoe wedding and Logan flies her from LA in his beloved newly-repaired plane. But there’s a mystery to be solved on arrival, and Logan's dogged determination to figure out all the answers leads to danger, trouble, and grief.
Sometimes you read a book and beg the author “Please don’t go there.” And, of course, he does. Tom Clancy lets the bomb go off. Chris Cleave burns the stadium. And David Freed? You’ll have to read this and see. With plot twists and turns nicely balanced by twists of turns of character, the escape of flight offering its beautiful contrast to hard realities on the ground, and hope carefully measured against despair, this is a novel where everything might hang on a single snap decision. Meanwhile the reader is pulled along, sharing the agony of the moment, and waiting for light.
Voodoo Ridge is a worthy and powerful third entry in the Cordell Logan series. It comes the closest to losing its Buddhist balance, but hope still lingers and the reader clings to it as surely as Logan does by story’s end. “The Buddha said that uncertainty along the path of life is the only certainty,” he muses on the final page, then adds, “Sorry I stabbed you, buddy.”
Please, let there be more. And please, don’t let Logan change too much.
Disclosure: I was given a free preview edition by the publisher and I offer my honest review.
4.0 out of 5 - Enjoyable third installment in the Cordell Logan series
The adventures of Cordell Logan, wise cracking, cash-light flight instructor, aspiring Buddhist, and former black ops soldier continue. Logan has reconciled with his ex-wife, Savannah, and while flying up to Lake Tahoe to be remarried, he spots the wreckage of a plane and so begins a series of events that will change everything for Logan.
This is an entertaining mystery that moves along quickly and is a fitting conclusion to the three book story arc. As with his other books, Mr. Freed incorporates aviation as a key part of the plot. Although the Ruptured Duck (Cordell's airplane) is out of action for most of the story, the flight scenes are fun to read and feel real.
It is wonderful to have Ray Porter back in the captain's seat doing the narration. I enjoyed his performance in Flat Spin and missed his narration in Fangs Out.
As with Fangs Out and Flat Spin, Freed has created another engrossing and razor-sharp mystery adventure. Like all good authors, Freed writes what he knows, and his expertise lends the Cordell Logan series a rare authenticity. Freed has intimate and in-the-trenches knowledge of police investigations, military intelligence, and aviation, and it shows. Alongside James Salter, Freed may be the finest chronicler of what it’s like to fly a plane.
Like John McClane of the “Die Hard” series, Cordell Logan again finds himself at the center of the action, a reluctant and conflicted hero. Yet, despite some cursory similarities, Cordell bears only passing resemblance to the action/adventure archetype. He is cynical and prone to rage and violence. He also possesses wit, charm, a sense of duty, and a desire to change. A former operator, Cordell struggles to adjust to the civilian world, and careful readers will appreciate Freed’s thoughtful portrait of a post-military life. Cordell’s experiences, instincts, and training often hamstring him as he grasps for meaningful relationships and steady employment.
Voodoo Ridge’s setting provides Freed with an opportunity to take us deep into the shivering winter of the Tahoe Basin. Typically a tourist haven for Bay Area urbanites, the northern Sierras become an icy hell for protagonist Cordell Logan, and Freed captivates with vivid renderings of the hostile and unforgiving wilderness.
Voodoo Ridge is an excellent addition to the Cordell Logan series, and I can’t wait for the next.
***I received a free copy in exchange for a review***
I loved this book. The author was great with voice and characterization. The story never left Cordell Logan’s sarcastic wit, and I loved every second of it. Even though the story was in first person point-of-view, I felt like I got to know everyone. The villains and good guys were all three-dimensional. I had three suspects of who was behind the sinister plan, and I was totally wrong. The author did a great job with red herrings!
My favorite lines: 1) “Yesterday. It seemed so long ago.” 2) “You get right to the point, don’t you?” “One of my many character flaws.” 3) “Patience, unfortunately has never been my strong suit.”
I’m a sucker for happy endings, so I was excited to see that Logan and Savannah were planning on getting married again. They went away on a honeymoon, never to be the same again. Logan spotted an airplane crash site and reported it. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be a good samaritan. His call led to criminals abducting Savannah to blackmail him into flying the dirty goods out of the state. I was very, very, very SHOCKED at what happened on page 235!!! I never expected that! It was cool that the author David Freed wasn’t afraid to go there. The ending gave me hope for Logan because let’s face it, he was my favorite character throughout the book.
I loved all the tension between Logan and his suspects of Savannah’s kidnapping. He wasn’t playing around! The end of the book made me sad (in a good way).
This book was very fast paced. I never knew what was going to happen next. I definitely enjoyed it even though I hadn't read any of the previous books. It seemed like the main character was trying hard to get on the good path and make a life for himself but it just wasn't in the cards. I'm not sure I enjoyed the outcome of everything that happened but it definitely was a book full of surprises. I definitely read it quite quickly because I couldn't put it down.
I received this book free from a goodreads contest :)
I found Voodoo Ridge by David Freed to be a top-tier operation that delivers a payload of suspense and guts. This time, Cordell Logan—our flight instructor with a military assassin past, hats off to his service—flies into a personal mission when he spots a downed plane while soaring over the Sierras with his bride-to-be, Savannah. What starts as a honeymoon detour lands him in a firefight of a mystery tied to a 1956 crash, Nazi loot, and a cover-up thicker than a hostile takeover bid. Freed runs this outfit with the precision of a supply chain overhaul, and for a man who prizes loyalty and liberty, it’s a full-on tribute to digging for truth when the chips are down.
Cordell Logan’s the kind of closer I’d put on any high-stakes deal—a battle-tested maverick with a wit that slices like a laser-guided budget cut. He’s hauled his share of baggage from serving our nation in the shadows, and Freed builds him with the steel of a leader who’s stared down chaos and kept marching. His one-liners hit like a clincher in a pitch meeting, and his creds as a flyboy who’s defended our skies earn my salute for every soldier who’s held the line. Logan’s a patriot with a spine of iron, and his grit’s the kind I’d bank on when the odds stack up like a bad quarter.
The crew around Logan’s a tight unit—Savannah, his ex turned fiancée, proving family’s a bond that holds fast through turbulence, and a mix of small-town cops and shadowy players who keep the game unpredictable like a rogue competitor. There’s also his Cessna, the Ruptured Duck, a trusty steed, set against the rugged Tahoe backdrop that feels like a proving ground for any enterprise worth its salt. Freed spins this yarn with a nod to freedom’s cost, and the way Logan navigates this outfit reminds me that family and resolve are the bedrock of any winning team.
Freed’s history as a pilot and Pulitzer-winning journalist fuels Voodoo Ridge with a thrust that’s tighter than a locked-in flight plan. Voodoo Ridge —evoking mystery and a pilot’s peril—nails Logan’s dive into the fray, a leadership move I’d greenlight in any crunch. It’s a tale that reveres the sacrifice of our armed forces, and as a guy who holds our troops in high esteem, I see it as a standout tribute to their valor.
In the clutch, Voodoo Ridge seals the deal with a bang—a high-octane blend of action, smarts, and soul that’d make any leader take notice. It’s a rally cry for family, freedom, and the strength to push through, with Logan standing tall as a hero I’d rank with our finest soldiers. Freed’s third outing is a powerhouse, a must-read for anyone who respects a hard-fought win and cherishes the principles that keep this nation flying high. This one’s a lock—raise the flag and call it a victory, it’s a hell of a ride!
The audio version of the first two in this series were fun to listen to. This one was a mess. Cordell Logan became completely unbelievable and unlikable. I probably won't continue with the series.
In Voodoo Ridge, David Freed's struggling flight instructor and occasional investigator Cordell Logan's involvement in a sixty year old mystery becomes deeply personal when his ex-wife and current love interest, Savannah, is kidnapped. Frantic to rescue Savannah before it is too late, Logan is coerced into delivering a mysterious package but a staggering revelation leads to an agonizing moral dilemma.
A shocking announcement at the end of Fang's Out results in a surprising reconciliation for Logan and Savannah. However, just as they are about to take the next step in their relationship, Logan's discovery of a downed aircraft puts him in the middle of a search and rescue effort. The decades old mystery surrounding the wreckage is quickly complicated by a recent murder at the crash site and investigators have barely begun probing the case, when Savannah goes missing. Logan quickly begins his desperate search not only for Savannah but the truth about long ago events.
The stakes are incredibly high as Logan digs for answers about the plane crash and its now missing cargo. His search for Savannah yields no viable evidence but he determinedly pursues all leads. His investigation into the mystery of the wrecked plane runs into a dead end and he turns his attention to the present as he looks into the current murder. Logan's despair and anxiety over Savannah's kidnapping drive his attempts to solve both past and present crimes but will his efforts culminate with her safe release?
This third installment of the series proves to be the most emotional as Logan anxiously tries to discover Savannah's whereabouts. It is also the most revealing as he looks back on both his childhood and his former career in covert ops. Logan poignantly reminisces about his marriage and his unwavering love for Savannah, but he also acknowledges the secrecy about his career led to the destruction of their marriage. Logan's struggle to reconcile his violent past with Buddhist philosophy is ongoing and his personal desires are often in a conflict with Buddha's teachings.
Voodoo Ridge is full of unexpected twists and turns and again, the killer's motives and identity are cleverly concealed until the novel's dramatic conclusion. This intriguing and compelling addition to the Cordell Logan series will leave fans very curious to see what David Freed is planning next for our gruff but lovable hero.
David Freed's undeveloped approach to misdirection in his Coredell Logan series is weirdly intriguing. While other writers often utilize elaborate plot threads to divert readers, Freed takes a different route by allowing his protagonist, Logan, to navigate through setbacks and challenges that arise from circumstances like financial constraints or unfortunate timing. In the third instalment of the Cordell Logan mysteries, Freed once again leads Logan on unexpected side journeys, such as his return home after the initial search for his wife. While these deviations may initially puzzle readers, they ultimately add layers to the narrative, prompting us to question conventional expectations of how protagonists should behave in such situations. Despite these unconventional choices, I found this latest instalment to be the most captivating of the series thus far. The revelation of the perpetrator caught me entirely off guard, and the palpable tension and danger throughout the story kept me interested. It's worth noting that some readers may find the portrayal of male characters in Freed's novels to be problematic, evoking comparisons to the hard-boiled detective archetype popularized by Raymond Chandler. While this aspect may not resonate with everyone, it contributes to a sense of nostalgia for a certain era of mystery fiction. Personally, I'm intrigued enough to give Freed's series another chance with the next book. However, I do hope to see the misdirection elements evolve into more meaningful narrative devices as the series progresses.
I really loved this book. I don't say that too often when it comes to murder mysteries, but in this case I have to. Ever read a book and instantly pick up on the tone of the author through the main character? That happened to me with this novel.
I loved the almost-Buddhist lead character. His revelations about Buddha's teachings and how he related them to his own inability to exactly follow them made him a slightly damaged, quirky and very human main character that was easy to identify with.
David Freed has a way of blending suspense and humour in just the right amounts, bringing you to the edge of your seat and then making you laugh until you nearly fall off it. His characters were all individuals and did not have that cookie cutter feel that so many seem to.
Along with moments of humour and intense mystery, David Freed made me care enough about the characters in this book to be genuinely saddened when something happened to them.
I loved his Lake Tahoe setting. It was interesting to see places that I visit frequently so well described. The atmosphere and tension in this novel made me keep turning pages, even long into the night.
If you are looking for a great mystery that will hold your attention, this is one I definitely recommend.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance electronic copy of this book from the publisher for review. This is the first of David Freed's books I have read but it won't be the last. Sixty years after a small plane goes down near Lake Tahoe, Cordell Logan happens to spot it as he is flying to Tahoe to remarry his ex-wife who is now pregnant with his child. Once he spots the plane the action begins. There are twists and turns and the book takes you where most authors would not dare go. Who/what was on broad the downed aircraft? Why are people getting killed after the plane was spotted? Two bodies were found at the crash site. One was the pilot, obviously long dead. But the other body was just recently killed. Logan's love is taken hostage by the people behind the recent death. The book grabbed me and didn't let me go.
Love the narrator; a huge fan of Ray Porter. This is my first David Freed book (via audible). I don't think I missed much in terms of the previous 2 Logan books as Freed kindly gives a lot of background regarding the primary characters.
I'm disappointed in the amount of unnecessary information and misinformation. Regardless, I had some idea as to who-did-it early on. It was pretty obvious. But I'm completely confused as to Logan going to a painting class with his landlady given what happened. What was the point of that? I had similar questions throughout the book.
Most complain about the dark direction the book goes . Unfortunately, it is far more realistic than the idealized version people (including me) hoped for.
I'm not sure if it is worth moving along to the next book if only to see what Logan will do now.
The non-stop tale of Mr. Freed's character, Cordell Logan, who flies himself and his ex-wife to Tahoe to remarry upon learning that she is pregnant. On the way, he thinks he see the wreckage of a plane crash. The investigation of this crash and the contents of the downed plane are the cause for the rest of the story. Logan is trying to endure his life now with a Buddhist outlook, but finds his calm shattered by the events of the "secret" surrounding the crashed plane. I really enjoyed this quick read, it is well written and full of action. My thanks to the author and Goodreads for a complimentary copy.
In 1956, an armed gunman uses a commandeered plane from a Los Angeles airport to make a fast getaway with a crate full of top-secret government equipment. Decades later, Cordell Logan and his ex-wife, Savannah, are flying into Lake Tahoe to get remarried when they spy the remains of a downed plane on Voodoo Ridge, a secluded area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Despite Savannah’s disgruntled protests, Logan postpones renewing his marriage vows to hike out to the crash site with the local police department. Fun, intense, and fast-paced, Voodoo Ridge is another satisfying installment in the Cordell Logan mystery series.
Why I can't give this book a 4 star rating? Our hero has the worst luck, despite his efforts to build positive karma. Each gruesome case drops in his lap and he can;t help but get personally involved. There are also too many flashbacks with no particular significance to the case for my liking. Why I should have given this one more star? The astounding plot twists, which compelled me to purchase the next in the series before even finishing this book. Most important though are the side characters, specifically Buzz and the landlady. I would re-read for their parts alone. If you're in the mood for some witty dialogue and some brooding this is a good book to pick up.
I enjoyed Voodoo Ridge immesly. It was from the beginning a page Turner and I am hooked on the characterCordell Logan a retired Natonal security Assassin who is now a struggling flight instructor. He and his ex wife are flying to lake Tahoe to get remarried as Savannah is pregnant with Logan's child on his way to Tahoe he sights a crashed plane and reports it to the authorities. They ask him to help in the search that is also being done by murderous predators. Savannah is kidnapped and Logan goes on the hunt for the kidnappers and murders. I give this book 4.5 stars I am going to read the next one the three nine line. I recommend this book
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery-thriller. In this excellent series I read #4 first, and then started at the beginning. Voodoo Ridge is quite good, but not at the top of the pile. I've given two of the books in this series 5 stars.
This one had a slow start, including David Freed's wit, which usually I truly dig. Everything picked up in the second half and I couldn't stop turning the pages. It was a little sorrowful due to a twist I didn't quite see coming or believed would come. Overall lots of action and humor in this fast paced novel that I highly recommend.
2.75 stars rounded up. This book tails off fairly steeply from the first two books of the series. The protagonist(s) are beginning to be more and more unlikable and cliched (especially the over-the top Jewish lady that is his neighbor) and I found myself looking forward to the end of the audiobook with 3+ hours left. Even the ending is anticlimactic and silly. I already purchased the next book in the series, but if it doesn’t strengthen out of the gate, I will move on to something else by someone else.
I really liked the story, despite my not appreciating the writer's humor.
As a low vision listener, I appreciate the readers. I just wish that they could speak with the writers and not mispronounce the really important words that are going to be repeated throughout the book. I almost stopped reading within the first half hour. I used to stop, but with this one, I would have missed a great idea.
Following on from the previous book, Logan and Savannah decide to pursue their relationship and get remarried. On their flight to Lake Tahoe, Logan sees something that looks like a plane wreckage. He reports it and sets into motion a sequence of events that lead to a dramatic conclusion.
If not for the fact that I surmised, early on, who the protagonist was, it would have merited a higher rating!
I didn’t like what happened in the story. It’s not that I didn’t like how it was written, but I didn’t like the story. But overall, it was as always, well written and entertaining. I feel it could’ve used a little bit different approach on stuff, but I’m not writing it, so who am I to say? I’m quite eager to read the next one. Of course, Ray Porter remains a flat out amazing narrator- I buy whatever he narrates!
Exciting yet romantically-inclined, rip-roaring adventure combined with rip-roaring emotional entanglements, deep issues of privacy, secrecy, disclosure: this is a thriller/mystery (and a series) not to be overlooked. This is the third in the series-can be read as a stand-alone, but readers will want to seek out the earlier books.
Another excellent instalment in the Cordell Logan series. Logan and his ex-wife fly away to get remarried, but on the way over the mountains, Logan spots the debris of a downed plane. Like any good citizen, he has to help the police and rescue services to check it out, but it's probably the worst decision he's ever made. Gripping stuff.
This is clearly the best of the first three Cordell Logan mysteries, but also the darkest. Freed really keeps the reader in suspense for much of the book and there is plenty of action to keep you interested. Logan constantly reminds me of Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar and any fan of that series will certainly like this series too.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, read when I was in the mood for something light and quick. I enjoyed the second one, just a bit less. And I still enjoy reading about flying. This one, involving a downed plane and the kidnapping of our protagonist's ex-wife, was good but not great, not enough to set it apart from the first two. Still, I'll probably continue to read the series.
As you might know from my previous reviews, I am totally in LOVE with Cordell Logan. This book, however, wasn't my all time fave. It was totally readable, and had an interesting story line, but it was pretty tough to take. I won't say why, as that's a total spoiler, but it had sad points.
Still worth a read just because of the awesome characters.
It’s been a while since I read a Logan adventure. Throne was good, but it seemed like a build up to future directions of the series. Now Logan is taking a different turn, looking forward to the next episode. Not that this one was bad. It has some sadness and a bit of a mystery, but it’s like a transitional part of the series.
I wasn’t sure I’d like like this book or not but I really couldn’t put it down. It really kept you guessing until the end. I’m really interested to know what’s going to happen in the next book. Obviously there’s going to be a huge shift in the story lines of the series. But whatever happens next I hope we get to see more of Mrs. Shmuglowitz because I love her!